91 



plant is largely consumed in maturing seed. Dry weather normally 

 occurring at this period also causes a decrease in the number of 

 weevils present. Not only are there less squares to become infested, 

 but each square is also subjected to greater injury, and many which 

 would otherwise have produced weevils are unfitted as food for the 

 larvjB by the deca}^ which follows the numerous punctures. Several 

 eggs may be deiiosited in one square, but as a rule only one weevil 

 will result. At this season weevils turn their attention to young bolls 

 upon which the injury previous to this time has been comparatively 

 slight. It was found in one case that 35 or 40 per cent of the bolls 

 were infested, while 15 per cent of the squares were yet clean. The 

 longer period of development required b}' larvae in bolls also serves to 

 decrease the number of weevils i^roduced. While the actual number 

 of weevils begins to decrease within a short time after the period of 

 maximum infestation is reached, the apparent numbers may j^ossibly 

 be greater. The decreased number of squares serves to concentrate 

 the weevils upon those remaining, and therefore the number of weevils 

 found in any square will be so much the greater. 



RELATION OF WEEVILS TO "TOP CROP." 



The hope of gathering a top crop is the "will-o'-the-wisp" of cotton 

 planters. After considerable cotton has been matured fall rains often 

 stimulate the production of a large number of squares, and many 

 planters are misled by the hope of gathering a large top crop from 

 this growth. The joints of the plant are short, and the squares are 

 formed rapidly and near together. Though weevils may have been 

 exceedingly numerous in the field, their numbers will have become so 

 decreased in the manner described under the preceding heading that 

 they can rarely keep up with the production of squares at this period 

 of rapid growth. Many blooms may appear, and the hope of a large 

 top crop increases. 



The fact, however, as stated by prominent growers, is that before 

 the appearance of the weevil they actually gathered only about three 

 top crops in 25 j'ears. The chance of its development, though always 

 small, becomes hopeless wherever the weevil is present in consider- 

 able numbers. (See Tables XXIII, XXIV, and XXV, and average of 

 infestation of entire fields, p. 88.) Neither the hopelessness of gath- 

 ering a top crop nor the actual injury which is being done to the crop 

 of the succeeding year by allowing that growth to continue until 

 frost kills it is generally appreciated by planters. Because of the 

 apparent abundance of squares and the presence of many blooms the 

 plants are allowed to stand long after thej^ might otherwise have been 

 destroyed. As is the case in the early spring, however, the abun- 

 dance of squares increases greatly the production of weevils; and 

 though a few bolls may set, they are almost certain to become infested 

 before they reach maturity. Every condition, therefore, contributes 



